Runs in your browser · nothing uploaded

OCR PDF

Pull the text out of a scanned PDF or image-based document. The OCR engine runs entirely on your device.

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Drop your scanned PDF here

or browse your files

    
    
    ✓
    Text extracted
    Download text file
    
  
    
  
    OCR runs on your device — your document is never uploaded.
    

    


    
  
    
    
    How to extract text from a scanned PDF (OCR)
    
    
    A scanned PDF looks like text but is really a picture of text — you can't search or copy from it. OCR (optical character recognition) reads the image and produces real, selectable text. CorePDFTools runs OCR in your browser.
    
    
      

    1. Upload your scanned PDF. Drop your PDF into the box above or browse to it.
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    2. Choose the language. Select the language that matches your document for the best accuracy.
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    3. Run OCR and get the text. The tool recognizes the characters and gives you searchable, copyable text.
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    Private text recognition
    
    
    Scanned documents are often personal, so uploading them to an OCR server is a privacy concern. CorePDFTools runs the recognition on your device. OCR works best on clear, straight, reasonably high-resolution scans; faint or skewed scans produce more errors.
    
    
    Common uses
    

    Making a scanned document searchable
    Turn a picture-of-text scan into real text you can search and copy.
    

    Extracting text from a receipt or form
    Pull the text out of a scanned image for reuse elsewhere.
    

    Troubleshooting
    


    Tips for best results
    


    Frequently asked questions
    
    
    

    Is OCR always accurate?
    Accuracy depends on scan quality. Clean, high-contrast, straight scans give the best results.
    

    Can OCR read handwriting?
    Most OCR is built for printed text; handwriting recognition is far less reliable.
    

    Is my scanned document uploaded?
    No. OCR runs entirely in your browser.
    
    

    Does OCR work on my phone?
    Yes, in your mobile browser, though large documents may be slower.
    

    Which languages are supported?
    Many, including non-Latin scripts — pick the one matching your document for best results.